Sofa bed hinge



Jan. 24, 1950 M. H. HARMAN 2,495,413

SOFA BED HINGE Filed Oct. 26, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet l MEL V/A/ H AZWMAA/ Jan. 24, 1950 M. H. HARMAN 2,495,413

SOFA BED HINGE Filed Oct. 26, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z] woe/Moo MEL Wm H fiswmnn/ ATTORNEYS Jan. 24, 1950 HARMAN 2,495,413

SOFA BED HINGE Filed Oct. 26, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheets Jan. 24, 1950 M[ H, HARMAN v 2,495,413

SOFA BED HINGE Filed 001;. 26, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet '4 ATTOR N EYS Patented Jan. 24, 1950 UNITED STATES *P'ATENT OFFICE.

SOFA BED HINGE Melvin H. Harman, High Point, N. C.

Application October 26, 1948, Serial No. 56,481

6 Claims. (Cl. 47)

This invention relates to sofa bed hinges and particularly to'the type of sofa bed hinges which connect the seat and back frames of the sofa bed so they may be selectively moved to seat, intermediate and bed positions.

In sofa beds employing hinges of this type, it is frequently desirable to return the seat and back frames to a particular position from any other position without operating the sofa bed through a complete cycle. For example, with the seat and back frames in bed position, it usually is necessary to go through a complete cycle of moving the seat and back frames first to the intermediate position, then to sofa position, next returning to the intermediate position and finally returning to the bed position.

An object of the present invention is to enable an operator to move the seat frame from bed position to intermediate position and then return the seat frame to bed position without going through the remainder of the cycle.

In using hinges of this type on sofa beds, it is not unusual for the hinge latch to release when the seat and back frames are being moved from seat position to intermediate position. On those occasions when the hinge latch releases the back frame, due to its own weight, slides down onto the base of the sofa bed which results in undesirable noise and wear. It is, therefore, another object. of this invention to providela hinge latch which is locked during all movements of the seat and back frames between intermediate and bed positions and which may be unlocked to release the latch only, upon manipulation of the-seat frame when it iszin its intermediate position.

In accordance with these objects'majorfeatures of this invention resideflin an improved hinge latch locking and releasing tumbler which is slidable both longitudinally and laterally and has: double stepped shoulders atits free end, one shoulder for releasing the hinge latch and .the other shoulder for locking the hinge latch to preventrelease thereof.

' Other objects and advantages of the invention shown in Fig. 1 taken on an enlarged scale'to 2v illustrate the improved tumbler of the present invention; and

Figs. 4 to 12, inclusive, are diagrammatic views showing the arrangement and relative movements of the parts of the hinge at various positions in a cycleof operation.

' Generally, the preferred form of the invention includes back and seat hinge plates for attachment to the back and seat frames of the sofa bed. The hinge plates are pivotally connected together and are also pivoted to a pair of links connected to the base of the bed in a well known manner for shifting the back and seat frames relative to the base when moving from sofa to intermediate and bed positions. One of the hinge plates has pivoted thereon a hinge latching arm, the free endof which has a notch for engaging an abutment on the other hinge plate to lock the hinge plates in fixed angular relation corresponding to the angular relation thereof when the back and seat'frames are in sofa position. The notch is released from the abutment to permit angular movements of the hinge plates about their pivot V for moving the back and seat frames to bed posi-.

tion.

the latch arm. The arcuate slot permits both longitudinal. and lateral movements of the tumbler. The free end of the tumbler has a latch releasing shoulder for-contacting the abutment to disengage it from the notchin the latching arm.-

Stepped from the releasing shoulder toward the arcuate'slot is a locking shoulder which is contactedby the abutment to slide the tumbler on the pivot pin and prevent engagement of the abutment with the release shoulder except upon relative angular movement of the back and seat frames when in their intermediate position.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the

sofa bed' hinge is attached to a base I5 of a sofa bed by a supporting bracket IS. A pair of links I1 and 18 are pivotally connected, as at it and 2|, to the bracket it. These links I! and I8 shiftably support a back hinge plate 22 and aseat hinge plate 23 which are pivotally connected together at 24, and may be attached to back frame 25 and seat frame 26, respectively, of the sofa bed. The link I1 is pivotally connected to one of the hinge plates, for example, back hinge plate 22 by a rivet, as indicated at 21. The other link 18 is connected at 24 to the pivotal connection for the hinge plates.

As shown in Fig. l, the back and seat frames are both horizontally arranged and have been shifted forwardly of the base 15; to what is known as their bed position. From this position, the seat frame 25 may be moved relative to the hack frame 25 about their common pivot 23. To control the amount of this movement and to secure the back and seat frames against relative angular movement about their pivot 24 in a fixed. angular position corresponding to their sofa position, a hingelatching arm 28 is pivoted at one end, as at 29, to one of' the hinge plates, in the example shown in the drawing, the back hinge plate 22. The other hinge plate, in this case, the seat hinge plate 23, is provided with an abutment, such as a pin 3|, projecting from the seat hinge plate 23. Upon movement of the seat frame 25 about the pivot. 24:111. a counterclockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 1, the abutment 3! will move into engagement with a notch 32 formed in the free end of the hinge latching arm 28-. For reasonsto be. hereinafter explained, the notch 32 has its sides 33 and 345 spaced apart so the abutment 32!. may slidev therein.

Releasing; and. locking control: of; the hinge: latching arm 23 is accomplished by a tumbler:- 36 shown most clearly in Fig. 3;. This. tumbler: has: formedv therein an arcuate slot; 31?, of: more or. less L-shapeg, by which itis slidably mounted both transversely and longitudinally" ona. pivot pin 38. fixed to the hinge latching arm 28. The: free end of the tumbler RE/has a. double stepped formation to provide a. releasing. shoulder 39. anda locking. shoulder 4 I..

Tohold the. hinge latching arm in. engage! ment. with the abutment 3i, a suitable spring, 42. is connected between the.- back. hinge plate. 22. and the hingev latching; arm 38. in. a. manner such. that the hinge. latching arm is. normally forced. in a clockwise. direction. against the abut..- ment 3i. Clockwise movement of. the seatv hinge. plate 23 and the seat frame 25 is. arrested by engagement of the abutment 3| with a projfecti'on 44 on the lower side of the hinge latching arm 28;. When the seat frame is moved counterclockwise", the seat hinge. plate 23 is also, moved counter-clockwise from the position: shown in Fig. 1 toward the position shown in Fig; 4. During this movement, the abutment 3| engages a lower projecting corner 45 of the tumbler 36' as the abutment slides alongthe lower side 46 of the latching arm. Continued counter-clock wise movement of the seat hinge plate 23 causesthe abutment- 3 l to move the tumbler 36 counterclockwise to the position shown in'Fi'g. 4, where counter=clockwisemovement of the tumbler 33 isarrested. by engagement of its upper side with a stop: 41 on thelatching arm. 28; In this posttion, the lower: projecting corner 45:. covers a part of thenotch- 32 adjacent the side 33 so, continued movement of. the seat hinge plate 23" causes the. abutment 311' to reach: a. position opposite. a central portion of the notch 32,. where the spring 42. forces the latching arm 23 clockwise, so. the notch 32. engagesv the abutment. andthe locking; shoulder ii-l of. the tumbler rests on the abut:- ment 3|.

Duringthis much of a eycleof operation, the tumbler 33- merely pivots. about the pivot pin- 33 so it remains. with the pivot. pin in; the upper'-- most corner of its arcuate L-shaped slot where the locking shoulder 4| engages. the. abutment 3L Further counter-clockwise. movement of the seat frame: 26. and the. seat; hinge plate 23 is prevented, because the abutment 3! will engage the. outer side 3.4 of. the notch 3.2, as shown in Fig. 5. Then, the direction of movement of the seat frame is reversed and it is moved clock- Wise, preparatory to transferring the back and seat frames to their sofa position. Upon initial clockwise movement of the seat hinge plate 23, the abutment 3! slides from its position against the side 34 across the notch 32 until it engages the side 33. During this movement, from the position. shown in Fig. 5 to..the. position shown in" 6, the. tumbler- 336 is shifted both longit'udihally and laterally until the pivot pin 38 is engaged in the lower and outermost end of the arcuate L-shaped slot. Then, upon further clockwise movement of the seat hinge plate 23, the force. applied by the operator to the seat frame ZE-is transmitted through the hinge latcharm 28; to. the back hinge plate 22 of the back hinge plate and the back frame is moved in a' clockwise direction and, at the same time, by the arrangement of the links I! and I8, both hingeplates. and their respective frames are shifted rearwardly of the sofabase t5; to the position: shown in Fig.

When itis diesiredto return theseat' andbackframes to their bed positions. the operator pulls the seat frame; an outwardly to; move it in a counter-clockwise! direction. Initial movement oithe seat frame 25... and the seat. hinge plate- 23, causes the abutment 3t torslide. from. its, posi.- tion, as shown; in Fig. 7-,, across the notch. 32. until. it.- contacts the side. 34,. as: shown. in Fig. 8- During this; sliding movement of. the abutment- 3lacross the. notch 32, the. tumbler 36. slides longitudinally and laterally until, the. pivot pin. 3.8. is egnaged. inthe, uppermost. end of the. amuate L-shaped slot 37. Continued counter-clock.- wise. movement oi the. seat. frame. causes, both the seat. and the back frames to turn and. be shifted forwardly of the. sofa base l5. As. the link H is shifted from the vertical position shown in Fig. '7, the full weight of the. back frame 25' is transmitted to the hinge latching arm 28: thereby again sliding the latching arm relatively to the abutment 31" until the abutment engages the inner side 33 of the notch 32*, as shown in Fig. 9; At this time; the tumbler 35- again slides laterally and longitudinally until thepivot' pin 38 engages the lower outermost end of the arcuate L-shaned slot 31'.

It is at this point that the hinge latching arm of many hinges automatically released bythe weight ofthe back, and the back frame slams down against the base of the sofa bed. However, with the present invention, the notch in the.

. hinge Iatching bar merely slides; along the. abut-- ment butthev engagement of; the. abutment. 31 withv the locking shoulder 4 t of the tumbler slides the tumbler laterally and longitudinally and prevents; the abutment from engagin the releasing shoulder 38'. Asthe.cmmter-clockwtseimovement of; the. seat: frame: is: continued, the parts. reach their intermediate position, as shown. in Fig. 1.6, which is the: same. position previously described: in connection with Fig. 6. At this-pQinhthe-hack frame is: stopped from further movement by the 42' and the abutment 3| is 32. The abutment 3| then" rides down the under.- side 46 of the hinge latching arm 28 until it en"- gages the projection 44 where the seat frame is seat and back frames toward the sofa position, the

operator merely reverses the direction of movement so the seat frame is moved counter-clockwise. As previously mentioned, the parts are identically arranged, as shown in Figs. 6 and 10, whether they are moved to their intermediate position from the bed position, as shown in Fig. 1,

or from the Sofa, position, as shown in Fig. '7. Thus, to return the seat frame from the intermediate position, shown in Fig. 6, to the bed position, it is necessary to move the seat frame counter-clockwise until the abutment 3| engages the outer side 34 of the notch 32 at which point the tumbler 36 drops so the release shoulder 39 engages the abutment 3|. Then, clockwise movement of the seat frame will release the abutment 3| from the notch 32 and permit return of the seat frame to its bed forming position.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sofa bed hinge having pivotally connected back and seat hinge plates adjustable to seat, bed and intermediate positions and a latching arm pivoted to one of said plates formed with a notch to engage an abutment on the other of said plates to retain said plates in one position of adjustment about their pivot, latching arm control means comprising a pivot pin on said latching arm, a tumbler having an arcuately shaped slot formed therein supporting said tumbler on said pivot pin for longitudinal and lateral sliding movements as well as pivotal movements, and stepped releasing and locking shoulders at one end of said tumbler, said releasing shoulder being engageable by said abutment for releasing said abutment from said notch, said locking shoulder being engageable by said abutment to retain said releasing shoulder in inoperative position away from said abutment except upon pivotal movement of said plates when in said intermediate position.

2. In a sofa bed hinge having pivotally connected back and seat hinge plates adjustable to seat, bed and intermediate positions and a latching arm pivoted to one of said plates formed with a notch to engage an abutment on the other of said plates to retain said plates in one position of adjustment about their pivot, latching arm control means comprising a pivot pin on said latching arm, a tumbler having an arcuately shaped slot formed therein supporting said tumbler on said pivot pin for longitudinal and lateral sliding movements as well as pivotal movements, stepped releasing and locking shoulders vat one end of said 1 tumbler, said releasing shoulder being engageable by said abutment for releasing said abutment from said notch, said locking shoulder being engageable by said abutment to retain said releasing shoulder in inoperative position away from said abutment except upon pivotal movement of said plates when in said intermediate position, and a stop fixed to said latching arm for engaging removed from the notch" said tumbler to limit pivotal movements thereof."

3; In a sofa bed hinge having pivotally con-- nected back and seat hinge plates, adjustable to seat,bed and intermediate positions with a latch-' ing arm pivoted to one of said plates and formed with a'notch for engaging an abutment ontheother of said plates to retain said plates in one? position of relative angular adjustment about their .pivot, latching arm control means comprising atumbler having an arcuate shaped slot formed therein, a "pivot pin extending through said arcuate slot and fixed to said latching arm'- to support said latching'arm for longitudinal and lateral-sliding and pivotal movements, a releasing shoulder at the free end of said tunibler for contacting said abutment to disengage it from said notch, and a locking shoulder on said; tumbler stepped from said releasing shoulder toward said slot for contactin said abutment to slide said tumbler on said pin and hold said releasing shoulder out of contact with said abutment except upon relative angular movement of said hinge plates when in said intermediate position.

4. In a sofa bed hinge having pivotally connected back and seat hinge plates, adjustable-to seat, bed and intermediate positions with a latching arm pivoted to one of said plates and formed with a notch for engaging an abutment on the other of said plates to retain said plates in one position of relative angular adjustment about their pivot, latching arm control means comprisin a tumbler having an arcuate shaped slot formed therein, a, pivot pin extending through said arcuate slot and fixed to said latching arm to support said latching arm for longitudinal and lateral sliding and pivotal movements, a releasing shoulder at the free end of said tumbler for contacting said abutment to disengage it from said notch, a locking shoulder on said tumbler stepped from said releasing shoulder toward said slot for contactin said abutment to slide said tumbler on said pin and hold said releasing shoulder out of contact with said abutment except upon relative angular movement of said hinge plates when in said intermediate position, and a stop fixed to said latching arm for engaging said tumbler to limit pivotal movements thereof.

5. In a sofa bed hinge having pivotally connected back and seat hinge plates, adjustable to seat, bed and intermediate positions with a latching arm pivoted to one of said plates and formed with a notch for engaging an abutment on the other of said plates to retain said plates in one position of relative angular adjustment about their pivot said notch having its sides spaced to permit sliding movements of said abutment therein, latching arm control means comprising a tumbler having an arcuate shaped slot formed therein, a pivot pin extending through said arcuate slot and fixed to said latching arm to support said latching arm for longitudinal and lateral sliding and pivotal movements, a releasing shoulder at the free end of said tumbler for contacting said abutment to disengage it from said notch, and a locking shoulder on said tumbler stepped from said releasing shoulder toward said slot for contacting said abutment to slide said tumbler on said pin and hold said releasing shoulder out of contact with said abutment except upon relative angular movement of said hinge plates when in said intermediate position.

6. In a sofa bed hinge having pivotally conslot and fixed to said latching arm to pivotally- 10' and slidably support said tumbler, a releasing;

shoulder at the free end of said tumbler for engaging said abutment and spaced from said slot a distance greater than the distance from said pivot pin to said notch, and a locking shoulder on said tumbler for contacting said abutment and. spaced from said slot a distance lessthan the distance from saidpivot pin to said notch whereby engagement of said abutment with.

said locking shoulder causes sliding movement of said slot along said pivot pin and engagement of said abutment with said releasing shoulder causes pivotal. movement of said tumbler about said pivot pin. 4

' MELVIN H. HARMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file of this patent: v

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 15 1,044,280 Sontheimer Nov. 12, 1912 2,2O1',903 Krakauer May 21, 1940 2,236,351 Krakauer Mar. 25, 1941' 2,437,580

Wilson Mar. 9, 1948 

